Written Answers Wednesday 26 November 2008

Scottish Executive

Access for People with Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review its support for the provision of accessible information.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to making its information available to all, including disabled people. We take our duties under the Disability Discrimination Act seriously, and expect other organisations to do so too.

  Both the Scottish Government website (www.scotland.gov.uk) and Intranet (Saltire) aim to ensure all content meets a minimum web accessibility initiative "AA" rating. All official publications are made available online in both html and PDF format. In addition www.scotland.gov.uk uses Dexerit text to speech software for official publications and news releases.

  We will supply Scottish Government published documents in alternative formats where appropriate or on request to increase public accessibility. These will include other languages, audio, Braille and large type formats and will include availability in electronic as well as printed formats.

  We currently have no plans to review this provision.

Alcohol

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15628 by Kenny MacAskill on 9 September 2008, what its reasons are for it not divulging the legal advice it has received regarding minimum pricing per unit of alcohol.

Kenny MacAskill: It is standard practice not to release legal advice on policy formulation or otherwise.

Animal Welfare

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17722 by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2008, whether it is aware of concerns among owners of working dogs that urban vets comprise a majority of those involved in the UK study into tail injuries in dogs and whether it will take action to ensure that more rural vets are included in the study.

Richard Lochhead: The Royal Veterinary College and the University of Bristol Veterinary School have recruited an additional 30 veterinary practices which has increased the GB rural based practices from 12 to 19.

  In Scotland the study will involve a total of 19 veterinary practices of which 12 are rural.

Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Act 2004

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many adults in Scotland were charged under section 2 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Act 2004 for documentation offences in each year since 2005; how many of these were (a) found guilty and (b) given custodial sentences, and what impact this has had on police operations.

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many unaccompanied asylum seeking children in Scotland were charged under section 2 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Act 2004 for documentation offences in each year since 2005; how many of these were (a) found guilty and (b) given custodial sentences, and what impact this has had on police operations.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally. The information which is held relates to alien and immigration offences in general.

Buildings

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to protect modern iconic buildings in city centres from unsympathetic development proposals.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government has a range of measures available to protect key modern buildings from unsympathetic development proposals through the provisions of the planning system. The main vehicle for this is the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and the controls that flow from this. In addition the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act of 1997 provides the means by which buildings of special architectural or historic interest are given a measure of protection.

  Once a building is listed, planning authorities are required to have regard to the protection of the building and its setting as part of their development management duties. Similarly buildings within conservation areas are afforded a level of protection because consent is required from the planning authority for their demolition. The planning authority also has powers to require planning permission for alterations in such areas through the use of Article 4 directions.

  Applications for conservation area consent and listed building consent are determined by local authorities, but in certain circumstances the Scottish Government and Historic Scotland will become involved. Scottish ministers’ policy on listed buildings is contained in the recently published SHEP.

Buildings

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider shortening the period of time that must elapse before a building is considered for listing status under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

Linda Fabiani: Historic Scotland state in the Scottish Historic Environment Policy (October 2008) (paragraph 2.34f) which supports the legislative remit for listing, that buildings less than 30-years-old will normally only be considered for listing if found to be of outstanding merit and/or facing immediate threat. The ability to consider buildings built after 1978 accordingly already exists for buildings under threat and no change is required to the legislation.

Concessionary Travel

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many concessionary bus passes were issued by each local authority in each year since 2005.

Stewart Stevenson: The issuing of national entitlement cards is the responsibility of each local authority. Any available information relating to card issue statistics by year may be held by them.

  Transport Scotland does not hold this level of information but I can advise you that based on information supplied the following number of valid national entitlement cards were in circulation giving access to Scotland-wide free bus travel for older and disabled people as of 23 October 2008.

  

 Local Authority
 Eligibility Type


 60 Years and Over
 Disabled
Disabled Plus Companion
Visually Impaired
Visually Impaired Plus Companion
 Totals


 Aberdeen City
 51,808
 6,929
 4,042
 33
 1,409
 64,221


 Aberdeenshire
 39,670
 2,083
 1,466
 79
 400
 43,698


 Angus
 23,409
 781
 604
 240
 117
 25,151


 Argyll and Bute
 20,340
 828
 1,244
 114
 195
 22,721


 City of Edinburgh
 79,775
 3,969
 8,998
 597
 1,180
 94,519


 Clackmannanshire
 8,913
 596
 520
 45
 64
 10,138


 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
 6,327
 199
 141
 22
 19
 6,708


 Dumfries and Galloway
 30,415
 1,649
 1,123
 102
 423
 33,712


 Dundee City
 29,630
 1,265
 2,302
 287
 407
 33,891


 East Ayrshire
 22,697
 1,573
 2,416
 107
 219
 27,012


 East Dunbartonshire
 21,510
 611
 1,078
 71
 133
 23,403


 East Lothian
 18,931
 853
 1,654
 69
 232
 21,739


 East Renfrewshire
 16,624
 560
 913
 71
 101
 18,269


 Falkirk
 27,452
 2,008
 1,290
 125
 284
 31,159


 Fife
 67,184
 2,911
 12,987
 60
 944
 84,086


 Glasgow
 89,317
 8,616
 17,415
 681
 1,411
 117,440


 Highland
 41,539
 2,588
 1,803
 260
 540
 46,730


 Inverclyde
 15,944
 1,168
 2,203
 117
 200
 19,632


 Midlothian
 15,404
 826
 1,607
 24
 232
 18,093


 Moray
 15,348
 986
 690
 62
 201
 17,287


 North Ayrshire
 28,254
 1,716
 2,877
 192
 344
 33,383


 North Lanarkshire
 51,152
 4,250
 6,552
 277
 506
 62,737


 Orkney Islands
 4,368
 188
 191
 12
 20
 4,779


 Perth and Kinross
 29,039
 914
 898
 201
 240
 31,292


 Renfrewshire
 32,237
 2,051
 3,519
 215
 355
 38,377


 Scottish Borders
 23,443
 1,260
 819
 209
 219
 25,950


 Shetland Islands
 4,271
 147
 217
 20
 17
 4,672


 South Ayrshire
 25,256
 1,421
 1,989
 150
 253
 29,069


 South Lanarkshire
 54,329
 3,334
 5,675
 260
 577
 64,175


 Stirling
 15,509
 984
 563
 116
 132
 17,304


 West Dunbartonshire
 16,083
 1,073
 2,252
 94
 234
 19,736


 West Lothian
 25,999
 1,269
 2,948
 55
 335
 30,606


 Totals
 952,177
 59,606
 92,996
 4,967
 11,943
 1,121,689

Credit Unions

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to credit unions.

John Swinney: Funding is available through the Scottish Investment Fund and will shortly be available through the Third Sector Enterprise Fund and the Social Entrepreneurs Fund. Funding may also be available through the Fairer Scotland Fund which is deployed and managed by Community Planning Partnerships.

Crime

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were charged with (a) fraud or (b) identity theft in each of the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: The number of people charged with fraud in each of the last five years is given in the following table:

  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Fraud1, 2002-03 to 2006-07

  

 
 Proceeded Against
 Charge Proved


 2002-03
 1,604
 1,459


 2003-04
 1,589
 1,444


 2004-05
 1,516
 1,355


 2005-06
 1,376
 1,245


 2006-07
 1,379
 1,178



  Note: 1. Where fraud is the main offence.

  It should be noted that identity theft offences are included within fraud offences and are not recorded separately.

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the development of the Scottish Crime Campus and when it expects the new facility to be operational.

Kenny MacAskill: The land has been acquired, the necessary site investigations carried out and the design team is working closely with all partners to create a unique and innovative facility.

  The project is on course to begin construction work next year, with occupation starting in 2011, subject to contract.

Crofting

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the (a) number and (b) total value of grants made under the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme to Orkney farmers, smallholders and crofters in each of the last five years for which information is available, broken down by grants made to (i) registered crofters and (ii) others.

Michael Russell: The information requested is not held centrally. The Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme is administered on behalf of Scottish ministers by the Crofters Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Crofters Commission to respond to you directly with the information you have requested.

Fisheries

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure the sustainability of tope stocks.

Richard Lochhead: Currently landings of tope from Scottish vessels are at a very low level. Therefore the Scottish Government believes that management of tope is best considered in the wider context of the management of all elasmobranch stocks. We shall be reviewing our approach to the management of these stocks during 2009.

Fisheries

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure the long-term viability of the spurdog population.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government supports the view that there should be no directed fisheries on spurdog and is working with the Commission to devise practicable management measures for 2009 which will prevent such directed fisheries without promoting discarding of unavoidable bycatches.

Fisheries

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the likely economic impact on the Western Isles should the European Commission’s initial proposals on west of Scotland prawn fishery be approved.

Richard Lochhead: The Commission has made no assessment of its proposal’s likely economic impact on the affected areas. However, I am certain that if it went ahead it would have a devastating effect on the west coast, removing landings worth at least £70 million from vulnerable west coast fishing communities.

  It is for this reason I will strongly resist this proposal.

Homelessness

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority charges tenants of temporary accommodation for homeless people.

Stewart Maxwell: This information is not held centrally.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional powers to deal with derelict buildings will be granted to local authorities under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.

Stewart Maxwell: The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 does not introduce new powers relating specifically to derelict buildings.

  The act will allow local authorities to issue a work notice, which gives them revised, more flexible powers to deal with a house which is below the tolerable standard, in serious disrepair, or in need of repair and likely to deteriorate rapidly into serious disrepair or cause damage to other premises if nothing is done to repair it.

  Local authorities will also have a new power to issue a demolition notice for a house which is in serious disrepair and ought to be demolished, provided that this is within a housing renewal area. This is in addition to existing powers to require the demolition of any housing which is dangerous or below the tolerable standards and ought to be demolished.

  There will be a new power to issue maintenance orders to secure the maintenance of a property for a period of up to five years. This should give local authorities more scope to prevent a house falling into disrepair in the first place.

Identity Cards

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes arising from the parliamentary debate on identity cards on 19 November 2008.

Fergus Ewing: The purpose of the debate was for members to discuss the UK Government’s plans for identity cards and to make clear the Scottish Government’s opposition to the scheme. There is no plan for any action arising directly as a result of the debate.

Identity Cards

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received on the subject of identity cards since May 2007.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has received several letters from citizens on the subject of identity cards since May 2007. The majority of these letters have sought clarification on the Scottish Government’s position on the UK Government’s proposals.

Identity Cards

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the potential use of identity cards to prevent impersonation in voting at elections.

Fergus Ewing: No consideration has been given to the potential use of identity cards to prevent impersonation in voting at elections.

Identity Cards

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions ministers or officials have had with the UK Border Agency regarding identity cards.

Fergus Ewing: Neither ministers nor officials have discussed identity cards with the UK Border Agency.

Identity Cards

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the use of identity cards as proof-of-age cards for purchasing cigarettes or alcohol.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government supports the use of the voluntary Young Scot National Entitlement Card as a proof-of-age card. This card bears the PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) hologram. The PASS scheme is approved by the Home Office. The Young Scot card is available to those aged 11 to 26 – free of charge and is currently held by over 213,000 young people in Scotland. There is no requirement for young people in Scotland to pay for an identity card to prove their age.

Licensing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17380 by Kenny MacAskill on 13 November 2008, what sanctions were applied to those off-sales premises that received (a) two, (b) three and (c) more than three test-purchase visits.

Kenny MacAskill: Sanctions can be considered and applied by licensing boards following a test purchasing failure, not a test purchase visit. Information is not held centrally on sanctions applied following test purchase failures. Under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 licensing boards can suspend licences for three or six months. When the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 comes fully into force on 1 September 2009, licensing boards will have wider powers including the power to suspend a premises licence for any period or revoke it. In addition to sanctions by licensing boards, action can be taken by the courts where an offence has been committed.

Livestock

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the HI health planning scheme for livestock is important to cattle production.

Richard Lochhead: HI health is an industry-led commercial initiative providing livestock health planning support to individual producers. The Scottish Government recognises the value that such a proactive approach makes to supporting good levels of animal health and welfare and its contribution to farm business profitability.

Livestock

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers are the benefits to producers of the HI health planning scheme for livestock.

Richard Lochhead: Livestock health planning support provided by organisations such as HI health and individual veterinary practices is an important aid in assessing emerging on-farm animal health and welfare issues and identifying appropriate actions to deal with them. Such a proactive approach supports good animal health and welfare standards and will contribute to farm business profitability.

Livestock

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs are associated with the HI health planning scheme for livestock.

Richard Lochhead: HI health is a commercial enterprise and is not financially supported by the Scottish Government.

Livestock

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provides to crofters to enable them to join the HI health planning scheme for livestock.

Richard Lochhead: HI health is one of a number of commercial providers of livestock health planning support. Those people who have signed up to the Animal Health and Welfare Management Programme, an option in the Land Management Contract Menu Scheme under the Scotland Rural Development Programme, are able to receive support towards some of the costs that are associated with proactive livestock health planning.

Livestock

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it can provide to crofters who do not have internet access to enable them to access the HI health planning scheme for livestock.

Richard Lochhead: HI health is an industry-led commercial initiative providing livestock health planning support to individual producers. We understand that its services can be accessed by both internet and paper-based correspondence.

Livestock

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to dispose of the bulls used in the Bull Hire Scheme.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government, as noted in its response to the Final Report of the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, intends to offer, as a transitional measure, existing stud farm bulls, at a cost not exceeding current annual hire costs, to crofting groups which have used stud farm bulls in the past three years.

  The Crofters Commission will shortly be writing to all groups who used the hire service in the past three years to invite them to express an interest in acquiring a bull permanently in the spring/summer of 2009. This will allow the Crofters Commission to assess requirements and initiate discussions with interested groups with a view to issuing bulls in time for the 2009 season.

  Bulls not required for this transitional measure will be disposed of at commercial livestock markets.

Ministerial Meetings

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place since May 2007 between ministers and representatives of individual private schools and bodies representing private schools and what subjects were discussed at those meetings.

Maureen Watt: The following table sets out the requested details of such meetings.

  

 Minister
 Date
 School/Organisation
 Purpose/Subject


 First Minister
 5 March 2008
 New Struan School, Alloa
 To meet staff and see the facilities for those with an autistic spectrum disorder.


 Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
 1 May 2008
 Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS)
 Role of SCIS, Curriculum for Excellence, qualifications review, GLOW, residential schools and inspection regime.


 Minister for Schools and Skills
 3 October 2007
 Scottish Association of Steiner Waldorf Education
 Steiner education


 
 21 April 2008
 Glenalmond College, Perth
 General visit plus discussion with 6th Form pupils.


 
 29 April 2008
 Spark of Genius, Paisley
 General Visit.


 Minister for Children and Early Years
 8 August 2007
 Kibble Education and Care Centre, Paisley
 General visit and to announce capital funding for residential schools and fostering services across Scotland.


 
 21 September 2007
 Daldorch House School, Catrine, East Ayrshire
 To attend the opening of the senior campus.


 
 7 November 2007
 Scottish Launch of the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership at the Parliament
 Meeting with the Chief Executive of the Scottish Society for Autism which run the New Struan School.


 
 21 January 2008
 Daldorch House School, Catrine, East Ayrshire
 A more detailed visit to the school following the opening of the senior campus (21 September 2007).


 
 2 April 2008
 World Autism Awareness Day
 Further meeting with Chief Executive of the Scottish Society for Autism. 


 Minister for Community Safety
 20 November 2007
 Ballikinrain School, Balfron, Stirlingshire
 General Visit.


 Minister for Public Health
 23 October 2007
 New Struan School, Alloa
 General Visit.

NHS Finance

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to NHS boards on how it defines efficiency savings.

Nicola Sturgeon: All NHSScotland boards have been issued with guidance, namely Version 3.1 of the Scottish Government Efficient Government Programme 2008-09 – 2010-11 - Efficiency Process & Guidance . This document sets out the principles underpinning the Scottish Government Efficient Government programme. It is not intended to be exhaustive but to help with commonly occurring points of principle. Potential efficiencies are considered on a case-by-case basis.

  A copy of the guidance is available on the Scottish Government website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/82980/0058843.pdf.

NHS Finance

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards are permitted to include projected property sales to achieve 2% efficiency savings.

Nicola Sturgeon: Efficiency gains may be either recurring or non-recurring. Non-recurring efficiencies can deliver a variety of valid one-off efficiencies. The Scottish Government Efficient Government Programme 2008-09-2010-11, Efficiency Process & Guidance cites the sale of a surplus asset, e.g. a building or land plot, as an example of a valid non-recurring efficiency, therefore NHS boards are permitted to include these savings.

  Non-recurring efficiency gains only count towards the efficiency target in the year in which they are made, they are not counted cumulatively.

  Potential efficiencies are considered on a case-by-case basis.

NHS Finance

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards are permitted to include accountancy adjustments to achieve 2% efficiency savings.

Nicola Sturgeon: Accountancy adjustments would not in themselves be permissible in demonstrating achievement of efficiency savings. However, accountancy adjustments that relate to real changes in the way in which services are delivered may be included in demonstrating their overall contribution to efficiency savings.

  The definition of a cash-releasing efficiency saving is where the organisation delivers the same service at a reduced cost, demonstrated by delivering the same outcome(s) or output(s) for a reduced input or delivering a reduced unit cost allowing an increased volume of service for the same cost.

  For example, if a service is redesigned and delivered in a more efficient way, in part by rationalising property requirements, this will have an impact on capital charges. Capital charges are a combination of two components, depreciation and a return on the cost of capital, which represent expenditure charged against boards’ resources in the same way as other operating costs. If a health board can deliver its services more efficiently by using a reduced asset base, this would reduce the impact on revenue costs in terms of capital charges and these savings may count as a recurring efficiency.

  Potential efficiencies are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Public Bodies

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which public bodies that are accountable to ministers are not headed by an accountable officer.

John Swinney: Accountable Officers are designated by the Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Government in his role as the Principal Accountable Officer for the Scottish Administration. As a general rule Accountable Officers are designated - either on a statutory or non-statutory basis - where the accounts of the public bodies concerned are laid before the Parliament for consideration. Accountable Officers are not designated for those public bodies that do not prepare accounts e.g. nearly all tribunal or advisory non-departmental public bodies.

Public Bodies

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in reviewing Scotland’s public bodies.

John Swinney: Details on the progress of the Scottish Governments Simplification Programme can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/Simplification-Tracker .

Rail Network

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Transport Scotland on the Aberdeen Crossrail project.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Government, and internal meetings take place in the normal course of its business.

Rail Network

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the aim of the Aberdeen Crossrail project that commuter trains will leave Inverurie and Stonehaven for Aberdeen every 15 minutes.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers are currently considering the emerging findings from the Strategic Transport Projects Review. The review will set out national investment priorities for 2012 to 2022. The Aberdeen Urban Network is being considered as part of this process. An announcement is expected later in the year which sets out recommendations on a portfolio of land based transport proposals that will contribute to the Scottish Government’s purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth.

  The timetable enhancements which come into force on 14 December 2008 will make rail commuting to and through Aberdeen easier.

School Meals

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding the number of school meals provided in each school in each of the last three years.

Adam Ingram: The information regarding number of school meals provided per school is routinely published on the Scottish Government website and can be found via the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/SchoolMealsDatasets.

Travellers

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have applied for funding to create and improve gypsy/traveller sites since May 2007.

Stewart Maxwell: Applications for gypsy/traveller site grant have been invited on two occasions since May 2007. In September 2007, local authorities were invited to bid for a small amount of funding that had become available during the year. In August 2008, local authorities were invited to bid for funding for the period 2008-10. The latter bids had to be submitted by 30 October 2008 and are currently being considered.

  The local authorities which bid for funding on each occasion are set out in the following table.

  

2007-08 Grant Applications
2008-10 Grant Applications


Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen City Council


Angus Council
Argyll and Bute Council


City of Edinburgh Council 
City of Edinburgh Council


Clackmannanshire Council
Clackmannanshire Council


Dundee City Council
Dundee City Council


East Dunbartonshire
East Lothian Council and Midlothian Council (joint bid)


Falkirk Council


Fife Council
Falkirk Council


Highland Council
Fife Council


Perth and Kinross Council 
Highland Council


South Ayrshire Council 
Perth and Kinross Council


Scottish Borders Council
South Ayrshire Council


South Lanarkshire Council
South Lanarkshire Council


Stirling Council
Stirling Council


West Lothian Council
West Lothian Council

Travellers

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it next expects local authorities to assess the accommodation needs of gypsies/travellers in their areas.

Stewart Maxwell: Local authorities are required to assess the accommodation needs of gypsies/travellers in their areas as part of the housing need and demand assessment, which informs the local authority’s local housing strategy (LHS) and development plans. The Scottish Government published new guidance in March 2008 to support local authorities to undertake improved housing need and demand assessments. The majority of local authorities are now currently undertaking, or preparing to undertake, new or updated assessments to inform the further development of their LHS.

Waste Management

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how local authorities will be incentivised to deliver the waste management targets in single outcome agreements.

Richard Lochhead: Following the completion of the Strategic Spending Review and the signing of the concordat with local government, the Scottish Government provided local authorities with record levels of funding over the period of the spending review 2008-11.

  In accordance with the concordat, it is responsibility of each local authority to allocate the financial resources available on the basis of needs and priorities, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments. In turn these aims, objectives and outcomes are reflected in the single outcome agreements, including targets on waste, and local authorities have flexibility over how these are achieved. The overall funding package resulting from the spending review 2007 is considered sufficient to deliver Scotland’s share of the UK’s 2010 Landfill Directive target.

  More specifically, the Scottish Government is working closely with COSLA and local authorities to ensure that appropriate plans are in place to meet Landfill Directive targets. In addition, discussions are underway with COSLA and other partners including Scottish Environment Protection Agency on how best to use the zero waste fund to support successful delivery of zero waste policy aims and objectives in order to meet targets.

Wildlife

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether and when it intends to abolish licences to kill game and, if so, when.

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why licences to kill game are required in Scotland but not elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is currently reviewing the efficiency and effectiveness of a number of areas of wildlife and natural environment legislation. We will consult in the New Year on options for reform of legislation including the provisions of the game laws in Scotland.